Head-rest mounting and actuating arrangement



S p 1964 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,147,037

HEAD-REST MOUNTING AND ACTUATING ARRANGEMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1965 INVENTOR. AQ/DZ/OF A 50 /4 /P/-/ACK firrak NtYS S p 1964 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,147,037

HEAD-REST MOUNTING AND ACTUATING ARRANGEMENT Filed Feb. 4, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zia.

FIG. 3.

[4 7 INVENTOR. 1? 17 w BQ/DTJOF A JCHL/EPl/ACKE BY 1 wrap/ways HEAD-REST MOUNTING AND ACTUATING ARRANGEMENT Filed Feb. 4, 1963 p 1964 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR F/P/DTJOF E JC/rZ/iPf/ACKE 3,147,037 HEAD-REST MOUNTING AND ACTUATING ARRANGEMENT Filed Feb. 4, 1963 p 1964 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6.

INVENTOR. FR/D UOF E JCM/iP/MCKE' BY M AOI'TOEMEYS United States Patent 3,147,037 HEAD-REST MQUNTING AND ACTUATING ARRANGEMENT Fridtjof F. Sehliephacke, Berlin-Schinargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz, Eoynton Beach, Fla. Filed Feb. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 255,985 8 Gaines. (Cl. 297-61) The present invention relates generally to reclining chairs, and in particular to improved head-rest mounting and actuating arrangement for a reclining chair of the multiple position rester or lounger types. This is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 41,334, filed July 7, 1960, now and entitled Improved Head-Rest Mounting and Actuating Arrangement.

A reclining chair of the multiple position type usually includes a support and body-supporting means having a seat and back-rest mounted on the support for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase to an intermediate til-ted sitting position md for further movement from the intermediate tilted sitting position through a second movementphase to a reclining position. The body-supporting means of such chair may be of the rester type having a unitary seat and back-rest or of the lounger type wherein the seat and back-rest are movable relative to each other during at least the second movement phase to increase the included angle therebetween and to establish a more comfortable reclining position for the chair occupant. Further, such reclining chairs usually incorporate a leg-rest which is normally disposed in a stored position beneath the forward end of the seat and is movable into an elevated leg-supporting position during the first movement phase such that a legsupport is provided forwardly of the chair at the end of the first movement phase when the body-supporting means i in the intermediate, tilted sitting position and throughout the second movement phase.

It is also known in such reclining chairs to provide a head-rest which is mounted on the back-rest, usually within the upper end thereof, and is movable from a retracted position wherein it conforms to the general outline of the back-rest to an extended head-supporting position spaced above and forming a continuation of the back-rest. Such extension of the head-rest occurs in response to the movement of the body-supporting means through the first movement phase and into the intermediate, tilted sitting position.

In such chairs, there exists the need for a mounting and actuating arrangement for the head-rest which is relatively compact, simple and readily compatible with the mechanisms for achieving the chair movement. With the advent of modern styling, which is often characterized by a slim line for the back-rest when viewed-from the side of the chair, the mounting arrangement for the head-rest and the head-rest itself should be accommodated with no more than the usual depth of the back-rest. Further, the mounting of the head-rest on the back-rest should be such that upholstering does not become too difficult and such that a well tailored reclining chair may be manufactured on a mass production basis and at relatively low unit cost. It will be appreciated that simplicity and compactness in the head-rest mounting and actuating arrangement makes it possible to incorporate the head-rest into the upper rearward corner of the back-rest such that same is relatively hidden from view when the head-rest is in its retracted and stored position, with the facility for extension of the head-rest to the head-supporting position without the undue exposure of the internal framework of the back-rest and/ or of the components of the linkages which make up the head-rest mounting and actuating arrangement.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved head-rest mounting and actuating ar- 3,147,037. Patented Sept. 1, 1964 rangement which realizes one or more of the aforesaid objectives. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a head-rest mounting and actuating arrangement for a reclining chair of the multiple position type which achieves head-rest extension during the first movement phase, is readily incorporated into a reclining chair of modern styling, has a relatively compact mounting and actuating arrangement, and may be actuated from the linkage employed to coordinate the movement of the body-supporting means and the leg-rest relative to each other to establish respective first and second movement phases for the reclining chair.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention, there is provided a head-rest and mounting and actuating arrangement for a reclining chair of the multiple position type which includes a support and body-supporting means having a back-rest and seat mounted on the support for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for movement from the intermediate, tilted sitting position through a second movement phase to a reclining position. The arrangement comprises a head-rest and means mounting the head-rest on the back rest for movement from the retracted position to an extended headsupporting position. The mounting means includes a first mounting link pivotally mounted on the back-rest at a first back-rest pivotal mount, a second mounting link pivotally mounted on the back-rest at a second back-rest pivotal mount spaced from the first back-rest pivotal mount, and a third mounting link pivotally mounted on the head-rest at a first head-rest pivotal mount. Means are provided for pivotally connecting the first mounting link to the head-rest at a second head-rest pivotal mount spaced from the first head-rest pivotal mount and a pinand-slot interconnection operatively connected between the three mounting links and cooperates therewith to form two four-bar mounting linkages supported respectively on the back-rest and the head-rest. One of the mounting linkages includes the portion of the back-rest intermediate the first and second back-rest pivotal mounts as the relatively stationary link thereof and the first and second mounting links and the equivalent link provided by the pin-and-slot interconnection as the three movable links thereof. The other of the mounting linkages includes the portion of the head-rest intermediate the first and second head-rest pivotal mounts as the relatively stationary link thereof and said first and third mounting links and the equivalent link provided by the pin-and-slot interconnection as the three movable links thereof. Actuating means are operatively connected to one of the mounting links for concurrently actuating the first and second mounting linkages during the first movement phase such that the head-rest is moved into the extended headsupporting position as the body-supporting means moves into the intermediate, tilted sitting position, with the headrest remaining in the extended head-supporting position throughout the second movement phase and providing an upward continuation of the back-rest which is stationary with respect to the back-rest. Thus, the chair may be styled with a relatively low back-rest to meet esthetic requirements, yet is provided with an effectively lengthened back-rest and head support throughout the second movement phase.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment according to the present invention, when taken an conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a typical reclining chair 3 of the multiple position rester type embodying a head-rest mounting and actuating arrangement demonstrating fea tures of the present invention, the chair being shown in an upright sitting position with the head-rest in its retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in the intermediate, tilted sitting position, with the head-rest shown in the extended headsupporting position and the leg-rest shown in the extended leg-supporting position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the chair illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the chair shown in the upright sitting position and the head-rest in its retracted position, portions of the chair being broken away and shown in section to reveal inner constructional details;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the chair in the intermediate, tilted sitting position, with the head-rest in the extended head-supporting position and the leg-rest in the extended leg-supporting position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the chair in the fully reclined position, with the head-rest in the extended head-supporting position and the leg-rest in the extended leg-supporting position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the back-rest, with parts broken away and showing the head-rest in the retracted position and the corresponding position of the head-rest mounting and actuating linkage;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view similar to FIG. 6, but showing an intermediate position of the head-rest and its mounting and actuating linkage during movement from the retracted position of FIG. 6 during the first movement phase toward the extended head-supporting position; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing the head-rest in its extended head-supporting position relative to the back-rest in which position the headrest remains throughout the second movement phase.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown a reclining chair of the multiple position rester type, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which includes a support 12 having opposite sides 14, 16 interconnected by a number of cross braces 18. The side frames 14, 16 have been illustrated as of a highly styled Danish modern type. Mounted on the support is a unitary body-supporting unit 20 which includes a back-rest 22 and a seat 24. Although the invention will be described in connection with a reclining chair of the rester type, it will be appreciated that the invention finds application in reclining chairs of the lounger type wherein the seat and back-rest are movable relative to each other during at least the second movement phase as the chair moves from the intermediate, tilted sitting position during which the included angle between the seat and back-rest opens up to establish a more comfortable attitude for the chair occupant. The body-supporting unit 20 is movable from the upright sitting position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 through a first movement phase and into an intermediate tilted sitting position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, and is then movable through a second movement phase from the intermediate tilted sitting position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to a reclining position shown in FIG. 5.

In accordance with the present invention, a head-rest 26 is disposed within the upper rearward corner of the back-rest 22 and is mounted for movement from a retracted position stored within the backrest, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, to an extended head-supporting position appropriately oriented relative to the back-rest 22 for the headsupporting function, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 inclusive. The head-rest 26 is disposed in the extended head-supporting position throughout the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5 and remains stationary relative to the back-rest 22.

The mounting arrangement for the head-rest 26 includes a first mounting link 28 which is initially disposed in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined position, as shown best in FIG. 6, and is pivotally mounted on the back-rest 22 at a first back-rest mount 30. The mounting arrangement further includes a second mounting link 32 which is likewise disposed in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined position and is pivotally mounted on the back-rest 22 at a second back-rest pivotal mount 34 which is on the back-rest 22 at a location spaced downwardly and forwardly of the first back-rest pivotal mount 30. Still further, the mounting arrangement includes a third mounting link 36 which is initially inclined upwardly and forwardly and is pivotally mounted on the head-rest 26 at a first head-rest pivotal mount 38 which is disposed adjacent the lower end of the head-rest 26. Provision is made for operatively connecting the first mounting link 28 to the head-rest 26 at a second headrest pivotal mount which is spaced from the first headrest pivotal mount 38. In this illustrative embodiment, the lower and rearward end of the first mounting link 28 is directly connected to the head-rest 26 at a second head-rest pivotal mount 40 which is spaced above the first head-rest pivotal mount 38. Still further, a pin-andslot interconnection is operatively connected between the three mounting links 28, 32, 36 and cooperates therewith to form two four-bar mounting linkages supported respectively on the back-rest 22 and on the head-rest 26. In this illustrative embodiment, a slot 42 is formed in the first mounting link 28 and receives a pin 44 which pivotally interconnects the rearward end of the first mounting link 32 and the upper end of the third mounting link 36.

The above described arrangement of the three mounting links and their respective pivotal mounts and interconnections provides a first mounting linkage including the portion of the back-rest 22 intermediate the first and second back-rest pivotal mount 30, 34 as the relatively stationary link thereof, the first mounting link 28 as a first movable link thereof, the equivalent link provided by the pin-and-slot interconnection 42, 44 as a second movable link thereof, and the second mounting link 32 as the third movable link thereof. The other of the mounting linkages includes the portion of the head-rest 26 intermediate the first and second head-rest pivotal mount 38, 40 as the relatively stationary link thereof, the first mounting link 28 as a first movable link thereof, the equivalent link provided by a pin-and-slot interconnection 42, 44 as the second movable link thereof, and the third mounting link 36 as the third movable link thereof. When the head-rest 26 is in the retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the pin 44 is disposed at the end 42a of the slot 42 which is remote from the first back-rest pivotal mount 30. As the back-rest 22 moves out of the upright sitting position and the head-rest correspondingly moves out of the retracted position, the pin 44 slides toward the first back-rest pivotal mount 30. During such first movement phase, the link of the first mounting linkage between the pivots 30, 44 is progressively shortened and the link of the second mounting linkage between the pivots 40, 44 is correspondingly lengthened. The path of movement of the head-rest 26 relative to the back-rest 22 is such that during an initial portion of the first phase of movement, the head-rest swings rearwardly to a clearance position relative to the back-rest, as shown in FIG. 7. Thereupon, the headrest 26 swings upwardly and forwardly into the extended head-supporting position, as shown in FIG. 8, wherein the head-supporting surface 26a of the head-rest 26 is oriented relative to the back-supporting surface 22a of the backrest 22 to comfortably accommodate the head of the chair occupant when seated in the chair and leaning against the back-rest 22.

The head-rest 26 is moved from the stored position illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 to the extended headsupporting position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 in which position the head-rest 26 remains during the second movement phase (as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5) by appropriate coordination with the mounting means for the body-supporting unit 20. Such mounting means includes a front guiding link 46 which is disposed in an upwardly and forwardly inclined position. The front guiding link 46 has a lost motion mounting on the chair support or frame 12 which includes a front pivotal mount 48 confined within a front guiding slot 50 provided in a mounting bracket or plate 52 fixed to the chair frame or support 12. The front pivotal mount 43 provides a relatively fixed pivot for the front guiding link 46 during the first movement phase, as may be appreciated by inspecting FIGS. 3 and 4, and enables a lost motion travel of the front guiding link 46 relative to the support 12 during the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5. At its upper end, the front guiding link 46 has a pivotal connection 54 to the seat 24 of the body-supporting unit 20. Disposed rearwardly of the front guiding link 46 is a rear guiding link 56 which has a rear pivotal mount 58 on the chair frame or support at its lower end and a rear pivotal connection 6% at its upper end to the seat 24 at a point spaced rearwardly of the front pivotal connection 54. The front and rear guiding links 46, 56 would be recognized as providing a four-bar guiding linkage for the body-supporting unit 20, which four-' bar guiding linkage includes a stationary link intermediate the front the rear pivotal mounts 48, 58, the front guiding link 46 as a first movable link, the portion of the seat 24 intermediate the front and rear pivotal connections 54, 60 as a second movable link, and the rear guiding link 56 as a third movable link. During the first movement phase, the four-bar guiding linkage guides the body-supporting unit 20 rearwardly while imparting an appropriate tilt or inclination thereto; and during the second movement phase the rear pivotal connection 60 to the body-supporting unit 20 serves as a relatively fixed main pivot about which the body-supporting unit 20 turns, with the front guiding link being displaced relative to the support incident to the travel of the front pivotal mount 48 upwardly along the front guiding slot 50.

In order to block the four-bar guiding linkage at the end of the first movement phase, a stop is provided to engage one of the links thereof in the intermediate, tilted sitting position shown in FIG. 4. In this illustrative embodiment, one of the cross braces 18 located rearwardly of the rear guiding link 56 carries a stop 62 which abuts the rear guiding link 56 in the intermediate, tilted sitting position of the body-supporting unit 20 to block the con tinued rearward turning movement of the rear guiding link 56 such that the rear pivotal connections 60 serve as the fixed main pivot during the second movement phase.

A sequencing means is operatively connected to the front guiding link 46 for precluding lost motion travel thereof relative to the support 12 during the first movement phase. In this illustrative embodiment, the front guiding link 46 includes a rigid extension 64 which carries a sequencing pin 66 confined within a double-arc slot 68. The double-arc slot 68 includes a first section 68a on an arc having a radius about the front pivot mount 48 and a second section 68 having a curvature corresponding substantially to that of the front guiding slot 50. During the first movement phase, the sequencing pin 66 moves from the rearward end of the slot section 68a to the junction of the slot sections 68a, 68b and confines the front pivotal mount 48 to the lower end of the slot 50. However, during the second movement phase, and upon blocking of the four-bar guiding linkage the sequencing means permits the lost motion travel of the respective pins 48, 66 along the slot 50, 68b.

A head-rest actuating arrangement is operatively connected to the mounting linkage for the head-rest 26 and to the four-bar guiding linkage for the body-supporting 75 unit 20 to move the head-rest 26 to the extended headsupporting position during the first movement phase, with the head-rest 26 remaining in a relatively stationary position in relation to the back-rest 22 during the second movement phase. The actuating arrangement includes a double-arm actuating lever 70 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at a pivotal mount '72 on a bracket 74 fixed to the body-supporting unit it). The downwardly and rearwardly directed arm 70a of the double-arm lever 70 is coupled via a connecting link 76 to one of the mounting links. In this illustrative embodiment, the connecting link 76 has a pivotal connection 78 at its lower end to the arm 70a of the double-arm lever '70 and a pivotal connection 86 to the first mounting link 28 at a point spaced from the first back-rest pivotal mount 30. The upwardly directed arm 70b of the actuating lever 70 is coupled via a constraining link 82 to the front guiding link 46. Specifically, the rearward end of the constraining link 82 has a pivotal connection 84 to the arm 70b and the forward end has a pivotal connection to the lower end of the front guiding link 46 at the front pivotal mount 48. The link 82, which serves as a constraining means, is effective to bring about the extension of the head-rest 26 incident to the relative movement between the body-supporting unit 20 and the front pivotal mount 48 during the first movement phase such that the head-rest 26 moves to the extended head-supporting position. Specifically, as the body-supporting unit 20 moves rearwardly during the first movement phase, with the 0 front pivotal mount 48 remaining at the lower end of the slot 50, the constraining link 82 causes the actuating lever '70 to turn such that the arm a thereof is driven through an upward arc in the counterclockwise direction about the pivot mount 72 on the body-supporting unit 20. This imparts an upward thrust to the connecting link 76 which turns the mounting links 28, 34 in the counterclockwise direction about their respective pivotal mounts 30, 36 on the back-rest 22 to bring about the extension of the head-rest 26. The curvature of the slot 50 for the front guiding link 46 is on a radius about the pivotal connection 84 of the constraining link 82 to the actuating lever '79 such that during the second movement phase, the displacement of the front pivot mount 48 along the lost motion slot 50 causes the constraining link 82 to merely turn about the pivotal connection 84 and impart no further movement to the head-rest 26. For all intents and purposes, the head-rest 26, when extended in the response to movement of the body-supporting unit 20 into the intermediate, tilted sitting position, remains in the extended head-supporting position through the second movement phase and as the chair moves through the various reclining positions to the fully reclining position illustrated in FIG. 5.

Disposed beneath the forward end of the seat 24 of the body-supporting unit 20 is an underslung two-part leg-rest, generally designated by the reference numeral 86, which is mounted by an exceptionally compact legrest mounting linkage, generally designated by the reference numeral 88. The leg-rest 86 includes a first part 86a which is initially disposed in a horizontal position beneath the forward end of the seat 24 and within the outline of the side frames 14, 16, as seen best in FIGS. 1 and 3. The second part 86b of the leg-rest 86 is normally disposed in a vertical position beneath the forward end of the seat 24 and serves as a filler board across the front of and below the seat 24 and improves the appearance of the chair when viewed from the front, as seen in FIG. 1. The leg-rest 86 is movable from the stored position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to the elevated leg- 0 supporting position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 during the first movement phase and as the body-supporting unit 20 moves into the intermediate, tilted sitting position. The leg-rest remains 86 in an elevated leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat 24 throughout the second movement phase, as may be appreciated by progressively inspecting FIGS. 4 and 5. The leg-rest mounting linkage 88, which is suspended from the seat 24 and is operatively connected to the leg-rest part 86a and to the filler board part 86b, includes a first pair of mounting links 90, 92, a second pair of mounting links 94, 96 and a coordinating link 93. The first links 90, 94 of the respective pairs are suspended from the seat 24 at leg-rest mounting pivots 100, 102, while the second links 92, 96 of the respective pairs are connected to the filler board part 86b and the leg-rest part 86a at pivotal connections 104, 106. The links 90, 92, of the first pair are connected to each other at an intermediate pivot 108, the links 94, 96 of the second pair are connected to each other at an intermediate pivot 110, and the leg-rest parts 86a, 86b, serving as two links of the leg-rest mounting arrangement are also connected to each other at an intermediate pivot 112. The link 92 of the first link pair crosses over the link 94 of the second link pair and has a coordinating pivotal connection 114 at the cross over point, while the second links 92, 96 of the respective link pairs have pivotal connections 116, 118 to the opposite ends of the coordinating link 98.

The leg-rest 86 is moved into the elevated leg-supporting position during the first movement phase and under control of the main guiding linkage by connecting one of the leg-rest mounting links 90, 94 to the extension 64 of the front guiding link 46. In this illustrative embodiment, a leg-rest connecting link 120 has a pivotal connection 122 at its forward end to the leg-rest mounting link 90 at a point spaced from its pivotal mount 100 and a pivotal connection to the extension 64 coaxially with the sequencing pin 66. Accordingly, during the first movement phase, and in response to turning movement of the extension 64 in the clockwise direction about the pivotal mount 48, a forward thrust is imparted via the leg-rest connecting link 120 to the leg-rest mounting linkage 88 which is operative to swing the two parts 86a, 86b of the leg-rest 86 toward the extended leg-supporting position and to concurrently move the parts 86a, 86b into alignment with each other wherein they form the required support for the legs of the chair occupant. Since the front guiding link 46 does not turn about the pivot 48 during the second movement phase and retains a fixed position relative to the seat 24, no further actuating force is applied via the leg-rest connecting link 120 to the legrest 86 during the second movement phase and the legrest 86 merely rises with the seat 24 in proper orientation relative thereto for the leg-supporting function.

In order to facilitate a more thorough understanding body-supporting unit 20 moves rearwardly relative to the support 12 under the guiding action of the four-bar guiding linkage provided by the front and rear guiding links 46, 56 and their respective pivotal mounts and pivotal connections. Incident to such rearward movement, and with the front pivotal mount 48 remaining at the lower end of the slot 50 due to the effect of the sequencing means, the link 82 exercises a constraint on the double-arm lever 70 which is effective to turn the arm 70a thereof through an upward and rearward are about the pivotal mount 72 on the body-supporting unit 20 and to impart a thrust via the connecting link 76 to the headrest mounting linkage. Incident to each thrust, the first and second mounting links 28, 32 begin to turn about their respective back-rest pivotal mounts 30, 34 in the counterclockwise direction. Concurrently, the third mounting link 36 begins to turn about the head-rest pivotal mount 38 in the counterclockwise direction, with the pin 44 moving along the slot 42 from the end 42a toward the end 4211. The movement of the mounting links 28, 32, 38 swings the head-rest 26 upwardly and rearwardly, with an initial tendency for the head-rest 26 to turn such that it assumes an attitude part way through the first movement phase at about 45 relative to the horizontal, as shown in FIG. 7. The continued movement of the head-rest 26 under the control of the three mounting links brings the head-rest into the fully extended head-supporting position wherein it forms a longitudinal continuation of the back-rest 22, with the head-supporting surface 26a being appropriately oriented relative to the back-supporting surface 22a, as may be appreciated by inspecting FIGS. 2 and 4. The end of the head-rest extension is established when the pin 44 abuts the end 4212 of the slot 42 and the head-rest pivotal mount 40 abuts the link 28, as shown in FIG. 8. Thereafter, and throughout the second movement phase, the constraint is effectively removed from the double-arm lever 72 due to the displacement of the front pivotal mount 48 along the slot 50 and the head-rest 26 remains in the extended head-supporting position.

Concurrent with the movement of the head-rest 26 to the extended head-supporting position during the first movement phase, the leg-rest 86 moves from the stored position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 to the extended elevated leg-supporting position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. This movement is brought about incident to the turning of the extension 64 in the clockwise direction about the front pivotal mount 48 which brings about a corresponding turning of the suspended leg-rest mounting links 90, 94 about their respective pivotal mounts 100, 102 on the seat 24. At the end of the first movement phase, the legrest 86 is in the extended and elevated leg-supporting position and moves upwardly with the seat 24 throughout the second movement phase as the body-supporting unit 20 turns about the rear pivotal connection 60 of the rear guiding link 56 to the seat 24 serving as a main pivot.

When the chair occupant desires to restore the chair to the upright sitting position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, it is merely necessary to urge his or her weight forwardly and press against the leg-rest 86 and the chair will move through the reverse sequence of operations, with the head-rest 26 remaining relatively stationary with respect to the back-rest 22 throughout the second movement phase and until the body-supporting unit 20 moves into the intermediate, tilted sitting position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. However, in response to the reverse movement through the first movement phase, the head-rest 26 will swing rearwardly relative to the back-rest 22 and be restored to the retracted position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, with the concurrent movement of the leg-rest 86 into the stored position illustrated in those figures.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that there has ben provided an exceptionally simple head-rest mounting and actuating arrangement which essentially includes three mounting links, their respective mounting and cordinating connections, and an actuating mechanism integrated into the overall chair control. The minimal number of part and connections enables mounting and control of the head-rest in a manner compatible with esthetic requirements, ease of installation and facility for upholstering such that a well tailored reclining chair may be manufactured on a mass production basis and at relatively low unit cost.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

What I claim is:

1. A head-rest mounting and actuating arrangement for a reclining chair of the multiple position type including a support and body-suporting means having a backrest and seat and mounted on said support for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for movement from said intermediate, tilted sitting position through a second movement phase to a reclining position, said arrangement comprising a head-rest, means mounting said head-rest on said back-rest for movement from a retracted position to an extended head-supporting position, the mounting means including a first mounting link pivotally mounted on said back-rest at a first backrest pivotal mount, a second mounting link pivotally mounted on said back-rest at a second back-rest pivotal mount spaced from said first back-rest pivotal mount, a third mounting link pivotally mounted on said head-rest at a first head-rest pivotal mount, means pivotally connecting said first mounting link to said head-rest at a second head-rest pivotal mount spaced from said first head-rest pivotal mount, and a pin and slot interconnection operatively connected between said three mounting links and cooperating therewith to form two fourbar mounting linkages supported respectively on said back-rest and said head-rest, one of said mounting linkages including the portion of said back-rest intermediate said first and second back-rest pivotal mounts as the relatively stationary link thereof and said first and second mounting links and the equivalent link provided by said pin and slot interconnection as the three movable links thereof, the other of said mounting linkages including the portion of said head-rest intermediate said first and second head-rest pivotal mounts as the relatively stationary link thereof and said second and third mounting links and the equivalent link provided by said pin and slot interconnection as the three movable links thereof, and actuating means operatively connected to one of said mounting links for concurrently actuating said first and second mounting linkages during said first movement phase.

2. A head-rest mounting and actuating arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the slot of said pin and slot interconnection is formed on said first mounting link and the pin thereof serves as a pivotal interconnection between said second and third mounting links and is slidably mounted in said slot.

3. A head-rest mounting and actuating arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said pin is disposed at the end of said slot remote from said first back-rest pivotal mount in said upright sitting position, said pin sliding toward said first back-rest pivotal mount during said first movement phase such that the equivalent link of said first mounting linkage is progressively shortened and the equivalent link of said second mounting linkage is correspondingly lengthened.

4. A head-rest mounting and actuating arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a double-arm actuating lever pivotally mounted on said body-supporting means and turnable relative thereto in response to movement of said body-supporting means during said movement phase, a constraining link pivotally connected to one arm of said actuating lever, means mounting said constraining link on said support at a relatively fixed constraining pivot about which said constraining link turns during said first movement phase, and coupling means connecting the other arm of said actuating lever to one of said mounting links.

5. A reclining chair of the multiple position type comprising a support, body-supporting means having a backrest and seat and mounted on said support for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for movement from said intermediate, tilted sitting position through a second movement phase to a reclining position, a head-rest, means mounting said head-rest on said back-rest for movement from a retracted position to an extended head-supporting position, the mounting means including a first mounting link pivotally mounted on said back-rest at a first back-rest pivotal mount, a second mounting link pivotally mounted on said back-rest at a second-rest pivotal mount spaced from said first backrest pivotal mount, a third mounting link pivotally mounted on said head-rest at a first head-rest pivotal mount, means pivotally connecting said first mounting link directly to said head-rest at a second head-rest pivotal mount spaced from said first head-rest pivotal mount, and a pin and slot interconnection operatively connected between said three mounting links and cooperating therewith to form two head-rest mounting linkages supported respectively on said back-rest and said head-rest, the slot of said interconnection being formed on said first mounting link and the pin thereof being pivotally connected to both said second and third mounting links and being confined in said slot, one of said mounting linkages including the portion of said back-rest intermediate said first and second back-rest pivotal mounts as the relatively stationary link thereof and said first and second mounting links as movable links thereof, the other of said mounting linkages including the portion of said headrest intermediate said first and second head-rest pivotal mounts as the relatively stationary link thereof and said first and third mounting links as three movable links thereof, and actuating means operatively connected to one of said mounting links for concurrently actuating said first and second mounting linkages during said first movement phase.

6. A reclining chair of the multiple position type comprising a support, body-supporting means having a backrest and seat and mounted on said support for movement from an upright sitting position through a first movement phase to an intermediate, tilted sitting position and for movement from said intermediate, tilted sitting position through a second movement phase to a reclining position, a head-rest, means mounting said headrest on said back-rest for movement from a retracted position to an extended head-supporting position, the mounting means including a first mounting link pivotally mounted on said back-rest at a first back-rest pivotal mount, a second mounting link pivotally mounted on said back-rest at a second back-rest pivotal mount spaced from said first back-rest pivotal mount, a third mounting link pivotally mounted on said head-rest at a first head-rest pivotal mount, means pivotally connecting said first mounting link to said head-rest at a second headrest pivotal mount spaced from said first head-rest pivotal mount, and a pin and slot interconnection operatively connected between said three mounting links and cooperating therewith to form two mounting linkages supported respectively on said back-rest and said head-rest.

7. A reclining chair according to claim 6 wherein the slot of said pin and slot interconnection is formed on said first mounting link and the pin thereof serves as a pivotal interconnection between said second and third mounting links and is slidably mounted in said slot.

8. A reclining chair according to claim 7 wherein said pin is disposed at the end of said slot remote from said first back-rest pivotal mount in said upright sitting position, said pin sliding toward said first back-rest pivotal mount during said first movement phase such that the equivalent link of said first mounting linkage is progressively shortened and the equivalent link of said second mounting linkage is correspondingly lengthened.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- 2,884,992 Spound et al. May 5, 1959 2,918,113 Lorenz Dec. 22, 1959 2,940,510 Schliephacke June 14, 1960 2,958,374 Martin et a1. Nov. 1, 1960 2,966,939 Fletcher Jan. 3, 1961 2,999,720 Schliephacke Sept. 12, 1961 

1. A HEAD-REST MOUNTING AND ACTUATING ARRANGEMENT FOR A RECLINING CHAIR OF THE MULTIPLE POSITION TYPE INCLUDING A SUPPORT AND BODY-SUPPORTING MEANS HAVING A BACKREST AND SEAT AND MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT FROM AN UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION THROUGH A FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE TO AN INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION AND FOR MOVEMENT FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE, TILTED SITTING POSITION THROUGH A SECOND MOVEMENT PHASE TO A RECLINING POSITION, SAID ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A HEAD-REST, MEANS MOUNTING SAID HEAD-REST ON SAID BACK-REST FOR MOVEMENT FROM A RETRACTED POSITION TO AN EXTENDED HEAD-SUPPORTING POSITION, THE MOUNTING MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST MOUNTING LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BACK-REST AT A FIRST BACKREST PIVOTAL MOUNT, A SECOND MOUNTING LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BACK-REST AT A SECOND BACK-REST PIVOTAL MOUNT SPACED FROM SAID FIRST BACK-REST PIVOTAL MOUNT, A THIRD MOUNTING LINK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID HEAD-REST AT A FIRST HEAD-REST PIVOTAL MOUNT, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID FIRST MOUNTING LINK TO SAID HEAD-REST AT A SECOND HEAD-REST PIVOTAL MOUNT SPACED FROM SAID FIRST HEAD-REST PIVOTAL MOUNT, AND A PIN AND SLOT INTERCONNECTION OPERATIVELY CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID THREE MOUNTING LINKS AND COOPERATING THEREWITH TO FORM TWO FOURBAR MOUNTING LINKAGES SUPPORTED RESPECTIVELY ON SAID BACK-REST AND SAID HEAD-REST, ONE OF SAID MOUNTING LINKAGES INCLUDING THE PORTION OF SAID BACK-REST INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND BACK-REST PIVOTAL MOUNTS AS THE RELATIVELY STATIONARY LINK THEREOF AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND MOUNTING LINKS AND THE EQUIVALENT LINK PROVIDED BY SAID PIN AND SLOT INTERCONNECTION AS THE THREE MOVABLE LINKS THEREOF, THE OTHER OF SAID MOUNTING LINKAGES INCLUDING THE PORTION OF SAID HEAD-REST INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND HEAD-REST PIVOTAL MOUNTS AS THE RELATIVELY STATIONARY LINK THEREOF AND SAID SECOND AND THIRD MOUNTING LINKS AND THE EQUIVALENT LINK PROVIDED BY SAID PIN AND SLOT INTERCONNECTION AS THE THREE MOVABLE LINKS THEREOF, AND ACTUATING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID MOUNTING LINKS FOR CONCURRENTLY ACTUATING SAID FIRST AND SECOND MOUNTING LINKAGES DURING SAID FIRST MOVEMENT PHASE. 